works like a Locus, looks like a handheld.

Pics at the Ashtech www site.

Battery life is only 8 hours and no stop and go.

What do you want at that price? A Kia doesn't have active suspension and night vision like a Cadillac, either, but it costs a lot less.

I can see your disappointment at a glance, but then when you read the specifications you should catch the following key phrases:

entry-level
lowest cost
high precision

From this I gather that Ashtech has once again attempted to reach the first time GPS buyer market (as they did with Locus and my company fit that exact profile when we purchased our Locus system a year ago). The fact that it has a WAAS integrated navigation capability is just a perk. (Actually I had asked if the new controller for Locus could be outfitted with a way of determining an autonomous position in the field to assist in finding control.) Obviously Ashtech has listened. I know it probably isn't a step up from Locus, but it appears as though the new buyer market is being further enticed to take the leap. Also I would hesitate to call it a step down, as it does offer features Locus does not. It is simply a different tool, made for different applications.

Don't be too hard on them yet.

Shawn

Edit-I just looked at the press release and saw the price...WOW
Modified By Shawn Billings on 7/25/2001 at 6:42 PM

Shawn,

You get the concept.

I see this as a bitter sweet occurence in the GPS community from purely a selfish business perspective (ie without respect to Ashtech)

The good part will be that soon there will be no reason for a surveyor to not be GPS capable, meaning that the ultimate goal of having all boundary work tied to a control datum will be more likely. This will result in easier retracement, etc.

The bad part will be that soon there will be no reason for a surveyor to not be GPS capable, meaning that those of us who are lose part of our competitive edge.

I am sure that those who had GPS equipment prior to the release of Locus felt the same way. What does it all mean? We are in an ever-changing field and that is exciting. Who knows what tomorrow will bring? Dad and I sat down tonight and figured that to fully outfit a survey field crew (with the exception of a vehicle) an investment of about $12000 would just about cover it. That's with GPS! How many of us ever thought that day would come. Mom jokingly said "Well I guess you can now do lot surveys for $150." Poking a little fun at realtors.

Just three or two observations (hey Jimbo).

Shawn

Wow. I think that is a pretty neat set up. At a glance, looks like us Locus users could integrate a few of these with our current equipment and be that much more "bang for the buck". I think the marketing division of Ashtech is on the right path with this new system.
As Shawn said, "bittersweet"...I couldn't agree more. But hey, at least we didn't buy a yellow, green or neon green system for 40k plus and be WAY upside down in the money!
Geesh. What will be next. Think Survey Control II would work with the Casio watch GPS??
A good friend of mine for years has carried a cartoon strip from the early 70's in his billfold. It is Dagwood, and he is trying to sell satellite dish TV receivers door to door. The caption reads something like "with this you can get 40 channels"; and the fellow he is speaking to replies "wow, that would be great, now if it only worked!" Any time he is talking to someone about technology, he brings it out. Talk about "in retrospect".
Dave

Guys, I can sympathize with the "bittersweet" aspect; the first GPS surveying company I worked for paid $33,000 each for single-frequency Ashtech S-XII's in 1988. I had that feeling when Ashtech offered the Dimension receiver for <$10,000 in 1992.

Shawn,

Looks like a cool new "toy" for us surveyors. But now I kinda wonder if Kent McMillan on the main board isn't correct in wondering about just how low will they go for L1 survey grade units !

I followed some of his earlier links and it sure seems you can go dirt cheap.(Brian don't shoot yet) But you might be way out on a limb using these "homemade" L1 stations....software compatibility, quality, etc.

Just a thought,

Jimbo
Modified By James Webb on 7/26/2001 at 10:24 AM

Thats a limb I wouldn't want to go out on for sure. What is the saying? "An engineer can do twice as much as a fool for half the money?"

The case on this unit looks to be the same/similar to the plastic case on the Magellan 300/310/315/320 GPS's sold to the general public.....

Since these are sold in large quantites; this will help keep the cost low......